Kvesic relishing his switch to No.8

REJUVENATED back rower Matt Kvesic is relishing his more senior role in the Exeter side this term and going back to his allrounder roots at Worcester Warriors.

Sam Simmonds’ knee ligament injury has seen Kvesic handed the No.8 jersey this season at Exeter and the 27-year-old has put in a string of impressive performances.

Kvesic said: “For me, it’s about playing as best as I can in whatever position I can for Exeter. At the moment, it seems to be at eight and I’m enjoying it.

“The coaches have tried to get me back to the Worcester days when I was more of an all-round player, rather than being regarded as an out-and-out fetcher or jackal, which is the tag I had at Gloucester.

“I can play pretty much across the back row. I’m perhaps more comfortable at seven but I really have enjoyed playing at eight. Sam Simmonds had that shirt for us last season and was excellent for club and country. He’s now been unlucky with an injury and I’ve slid across.

“Having that role and that responsibility, you get your hands on the ball a little more and need to be able to carry, to be that link man. I’ve enjoyed the pressure of that and it’s meant I can get into the game a bit more.”

Kvesic, above, admits Chiefs’ European Cup campaign has been “pretty disappointing” so far but is confident they can upset the odds and fight through to the quarter-fianls.

“Munster are top on 12 points and we’re on eight,” he said. “The group is very open. We thought the door was closed when we lost to Gloucester at home but we knew we could still go through with three bonuspoint wins and we then got one of them in the return game at Gloucester.

“We’ve just to knock one out against Castres, then go and win at Munster but we have the sort of players who respond to challenges. It’s a tough ask but we almost play better with that underdog attitude.”